Oaklands Moratorium On Rent Increases After Eviction Is Fatally Flawed

Oaklands Moratorium On Rent Increases After Eviction
Is Fatally Flawed

By Lynda Carson 3/6/01

Oakland--Oaklands Moratorium on rent increases after
evictions came into effect 7 months ago on August 1st,2000.To date there has not yet been one prosecution
of the lawless landlords that have been evicting for profit in Oakland,in spite of the Moratorium.Furthermore in a stunning revelation, it came to light today that a gag order exist's that prohibits Oaklands Renters from filing the eviction notices with Oaklands Rent Arbitration Program.In a statement by a female staffer with the
Rent Arbitration Program named May, it was verified that as of yet there is no procedure for renters of Oakland to file the needed eviction notices with the Rent Arbitration Program. The staffer named May states that if a renter tries to file the eviction notice with the Rent Arbitration
Program, that the eviction notice would not be accepted and mailed back to the renter that sent it in.

According to sources, evictions in Oakland have risen above 300% during the past year, and 65% of evictions are upon people of color. The spirit of Ordinance No. 12273, "Moratorium On Rent Increases After Evictions" is meant to slow down the rate of evictions ocurring by greedy
landlords. This Ordinance if it is to be effective, depends upon receipt of information such as eviction notices by the Rent Arbitration Board. Nothing in the Ordinance states that renters are not allowed to file the eviction notices with the Rent Arbitration Program, however the gag order
on renters keeps them from filing the needed eviction notices that could be used to prosecute lawless landlords that evict for profit in Oakland. So, whats the point in having a Moratorium on rent increases if the renters are
not allowed to participate in filing the eviction notices
with the Rent Arbitration Program many renters argue.It's as tho we are gagged, claimed Maurice
Johnson, a long time Oakland renter.

As recent as Saturday March 3, 2001, nearly 150
demonstrators and activists gathered at Oaklands City Hall to voice their complaint with the state of affairs for renters in Oakland. Last summer over 20,000 signatures on Petitions calling for a Just Cause Ordinance to be drafted,
was dismissed by many Council Members and Mayor Jerry Brown. At this point Oaklands renters are outraged by the way they are unfairly treated in this town.

In further revelations, it came to light that in recent contracts provided by the Oakland Housing Authority for the Section 8 Voucher Program, the OHA
maintains that landlords are allowed to evict if they wish to raise the rents. In the Section 8 Voucher Contracts, this may be found on page 3, Section 14, sub-section C, #4. Today I called the OHA to get their position on the Moratorium. In a statement from the Office of Jon Gressley the OHA's Executive Director, the statement was made that Federal Law Supersedes Oaklands local ordinance that applies to the Moratorim. However,in past statements OHA Officials stated that they are subject to state and local laws.

Regardless, Oaklands Moratorium on rent increases after evictions is fatally flawed, and is the reason that as
of yet, lawless landlords do not fear prosecution when they choose to defy the Moratorium.

Until Oakland has a Just Cause Measure in place that is enforced, the lawless landlords of Oakland shall continue
to rip off the renters of Oakland as they have for years past. Evictions for
profit create homelessness, and are at the root of displacing many thousands of Oaklands
Citizens.

When Jerry Brown rode into town claiming
Oaklanders First, he must
have meant the first to be
displaced by his 10 K Plan.